Paper-folding machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

w J. H. STONEM'ETZ.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 308,214.- Patented Nov. 18. 1884.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J.'H. STONEMETZ'.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

Ilii] II umumm Patented Nov. 18, 1884.

'iiiilii:

wil'nesse' N. PETERS. Phulo-Lzihognpher. Washington. D. C,

(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

v J. STONEMETZ.

PAPER FOLDING MACHINE.

No. 308,214. Patented Nov. 18, 1884.

N. PETERS. Pholo-lilhcgnphnr. Wnshmghm. D c,

UNTTnn STATES PATENT @rricie.

JOHN H. STONEMETZ, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PAPER-FOLDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,214, dated November 18, 1884.

Application filed June 9, 1883.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN H. Srosnnnrz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Penn sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PaperFolding Machines; aud'I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the in-' vention. such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the ac-' companying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to papeizfolding machines; and it consists in the improvements hereinafter set forth and explained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved paperfolding machine. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the large intermediate gear cam wheel removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the-folding-machine, taken through Fig. 4 in the direction of the line 00 m of Fig. 4. Fig. at is a top orplanview of m yimproved paper-folding machine with the table or top cover removed. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the multiple cam driving-wheel, showing the contour of the cams thereon. Fig. 6 is an edge View of said wheel. Fig. 7 is a plan View of the first pair of rolls, one of which is turned by frictional contact with the other.

Like letters designate like parts in all the figures.

A designates one of the side frames, which is composed of the two vertical standards a, a top cross-piece, a, and a middle crosspiece, a, consisting of two members placed out of line with each other, as shown in Fig. 2, and provided at their point of juncture with an enlargement or web, a, from which branches an arm, a, that extends to the middle portion of the crosspiece (i In the construction of this side frame, A, it is molded and cast in asolid piece, with slots and bearings recessed in the top cross-piece, a", the middle crosspiece, a, the web a, and arm a thereof, to re ceive and support the mechanism attached thereto. The other side frame, B, is of simi lar, form, with upright standards 12, top cross- No model.)

piece, I), and middle cross-piece, b with a de pressed or U-shaped portion. I)", as is clearly shown in Fig. 8, and is in like manner molded and cast in a single solid piece, with slots and bearings recessed in the cross-pieces and arms thereof to receive and support the mechanism. supported thereby. A and B, are connected together by horizon tal rails 0, located in pairs between the standards a b at the two ends of the machine, and bolted thereto, as shown in Fig. 1. These parts, constructed as described, form the entire outside frame work of the machine, thus greatly simplifying its construction, and at the same time increasing its stiffness and strength.

The letter D indicates the wooden table or top of the machine, upon which the sheets of paper are received and deposited by carriertapes from the press in proper position for the action of the first folding blade and rolls, hereinafter described.

F is the driving-shaft of the machine, adapted to be operated by any suitable motive power direct from a printing-press, or otherwise. This shaft F extends beneath the table D, where it is provided with a miter-gear wheel, f, which meshes into a similar miter-gear wheel, f, on thejournal of one of the first pair of foldingrolls, E. These rolls are located immediately beneath the table or cover D, in a horizontal position, and are journaled in end bearings in the top rails of the'side frames, A and B. One of these rolls, being driven by the mitergear wheel f, imparts motion to the other by frictional contact, the rolls E being made of slightly larger diameter at the ends, so as to form contact-surfaces f ,whicl1, in connection with frictional contact of the carrier-tapes K, passing between and driven by said rolls, impart motion to one of said folding-rolls.

It will be observed that the bearing-blocks of the friction-driven roller, seated in slots in theend frames, have springs 6, Fig. 2, which press them forward. On the outside of the side frame B one of the rolls E is provided with a spur-gear wheel, f, which meshes into a spur-gear wheel on the end of atou-ntershaft, G, journaled in the side frames, A and B, which counter-shaft is provided with a bev- These two side frames,

eled gear-wheel, g, at a point between the side frames,A and 13,1'01 actuating the second pair of folding-rolls, hereinafter described, and also gear-wheel g, outside of the side frame A, for actuating other driving mechanism of the machine, hereinafter described. The beveled gear-wheel g 011 the counter-shaft G meshes into a bevel gear-wheel, h, Fig. 3, on one of the 86001] d pair offoldingrolls II, and actuates the same. These rolls H are arranged at an angle of about one in eight, or of from seven degrees to eight degrees, in relation to a horizontal plane, and have their upper bearings in a suitable rail of the machine, (not shown in the drawings) and their lower hearings in one of the rails G, and are geared together by intermeshing spur-gear wheels h and h. The degree of inclination of this second pair ofrolls H is, as will be seen, made less than that usually adopted in building paper-folding machines, which have usually been either horizontal or at a steep inclination, sometimes of forty-five degrees, for the reason that this inclination was necessary to cause the oncefolded sheet to slide down into the proper position to be acted upon by the second pair of rolls, while I carry the sheet into such position by means of carrier-tapes for that purpose, hereinafter described, and am thereby.

enabled to utilize the inclination of the rolls H in the arrangement of the trimming-knife, so as to throw the trimmings off and out of the way of the sheet. as hereinafter referred to, besides securing the co-operation of just enough of the force of gravity to prevent thesheet from being in any case retarded.

The trimmer consists of a revolving knife or cutter, F, Fig. 3, adjustably mounted upon a short shaft, I, which is mounted in bearings beneath the lower end of one of the rolls H, and is driven by means of a spur-gear wheel, 1', thereon, which latter intermeshes with the spur-gear wheel h. The cutter or knife F, being thus caused to rotate in contact with one of the rolls H, trims one of the folded edges of the twice-folded sheet as it passes through the folding-rolls II. This cutter is adjustahly attached to its shaft I, and can be arranged to rotate in contact with different portions of or at different points on the folding-rolls, so that by convenient adjustment on its shaft I sheets of different width can be trimmed as desired. The trimming of the sheet being accomplished as the twice-folded sheet is passing between and is leaving the foldingrolls H, the trimmed sheet is then carried by a set of carrier-tapes, h, to the third set of folding-rolls,M,while the shearings or trimmings cut therefrom drop away from the sheet and the mechanism of the machine. These trimmings fall vertically from the lower edge of the inclined sheet; consequently, as the latter travels onto the next pair of folding-rolls, the inclination of the cut strips is away from the folding-rolls and cutter operating therewith, so that they cannot be drawn in with or interfere with the further folding of the sheet, as might occur in some constructions if the trimming were done at the top edge of an inclined sheet or from a horizontal one.

In the process of folding and trimming the sheet, after it receives the first fold through the medium of the first set of rolls, E, and the folding-blade J operating therewith, the oncefolded sheet is received upon carrier-tapes K, which are driven by'being passed around one of the first folding-rolls, E, and thence, following the inclination of and slightly above the second pair of folding-rolls, H, run around spools or pulleys It, mounted on one of the rails O in proper relation to the lower ends of the rolls H, so that the sheet is received from the rolls E and carried thereon to a point where it lies in an inclined position slightly above and parallel with the rolls H, for the action of the second folding-blade.L, without any rebounding or displacement of the sheet, this difficulty being effectually and absolutely guarded against by the slight inclination of the carrier tapes and rolls in the operation of the mechanism, hereinafterdescribed. The sheet, after passing between thesecond foldingrolls H and receiving its second fold, and being trimmed, as hereinbefore described, is conveyed by carrier tapes h (hereinafter described) and delivered over the third pair of folding-rolls, M. These rolls are placed at right angles to the rolls H, and at a slight inclination from a horizontal plane, and are journaled at one end in a suitable supportingbar underneath the rolls H, and at the other in the cross-piece a of the side frame A, and are driven by mechanism hereinafter de scribed. A foldingblade, N, operates in conjunction with said rolls M, which will hereinafter he more fully described.

The carrier-tapes h, which carry the twicefolded sheet from the rolls H over the rolls M, are passed around and driven by one of the rolls H, and from thence run around spools or pulleys h", attached to the cross-piece a, and are shown in Figs. 1 and 4. These carriertapes h are arranged at the same inclination and slightly above the plane of the third set of folding-rolls, M, and carry the twice-folded sheet from the second set ot'rolls, H, to and over the third set of rolls, M,and place it in proper position for the action of the third folding blade, N, and rolls M. After passing between the third set of folding-rolls, M, the thricefolded sheet is received upon and conveyed by a third set of carrier tapes, at, over the fourth pair of folding-rolls, O, in connection with which operates a fourth folding-blade, P, Fig. 3. These carrier-tapes m pass around and are driven by one of the rolls M, and thence, at the same inclination as the rolls 0, pass around spools or pulleys a, mounted on a longitudinal bar in the frame. as is shown in Fig. 3. This fourth set of folding-rolls are placed at right angles to the rolls M, and at a IIO slight inclination from a horizontal plane,and

are journaled in suitable cross-pieces in the frame and driven by mechanism hereinafter LII described. The fourth folding-blade, P, which operates in conjunction with said rolls 0, will hereinafter be more fully described. After passing through the fourth pair of folding rolls, 0, which completes the fourth and last fold, the completely folded sheet drops into the packer-box X.

The packer mechanism and the mechanism hereinbefore described (except the first and second folding-rolls and their carrier-tapes) are actuated by a large intermediate spur-gear cam wheel, Q, which intermeshes with and is driven by the spur-gear wheel g on the counter-shaft G. The wheel Q operates both as a cam-wheel driving folding-blade mechanism, as hereinafter described, and also as an intermediate driving-wheel revolving on a stud-pin and meshing into and driving a spurgear pinion, m on the journal of one of the third set of folding -rolls, M, and operating the same. On the shaft of the roll having the spur-pinion m thereon is a spur wheel, m, which meshes into aspur-wheel, r, on a short counter-shaft, R. (See Fig. 3.) This shaft R is also provided with a miter gear wheel, r, which meshes into a miter-gear wheel, 1- on the journal of one of the fourth set of foldingrolls 0, thereby operating the same. From the foregoing description the mechanism operating the several sets of folding rolls will readily be understood.

The driving-wheel Q, in addition to its function of driving-wheel for some of the foldingrolls, is provided with four cams 'or cam-surfaces,designated as STUV,which-areso shaped and arranged with relation to each other that they actuate the several folding-blades of the machine at the proper times required to make the required number of folds in the sheet during its passage through the machine.

The intermediate mechanism by which the said set eral cams communicate motion to the several folding-blades is constructed and operated as follows: The first folding-blade, J,is mounted on a rock-shaft, j, which has an arm. j. To this arm is pivoted a lever, j", which is provided with ayoke, j", (see Fig; 2,) one arm of which yoke slides in a guide, j, attached to the frame of the machine. The cam-surface S bears against a projection, j, and operates the yokej, periodically imparting a reciprocating motion to the sameand causing the oscillation of the shaft-j, and thereby alternately depressing and raisingthefoldingbladeJ. The second folding-bladc,L,is mounted on a rock shalt, b, which has an arm carrying a frictionroller, If, which rides on the cam Tas the same rotates, thereby alternately depressing and raising said folding-blade L at the propertime.

required to form the second fold in the sheet. The third foldingblade, N, is mounted on a rock-shaft, n, which is provided with an arm, n, on the end of said rock-shaft, which engages with and is operated by the cam U as it rotates. thereby alternately depressing and raising the folding-blade N at the proper time re quired to make the third fold in the sheet.

The fourth folding blade, P, is mounted on'a rock-shaftp, which isprovidi-d with an arm, 1), having a friction-roller. p", thereon, that rests against and in contact with the side of the cam V, which in its rotation alternately depresses and raises the folding-bladeP at the proper time required to make the fourth fold in the sheet.

In addition to the liereinbefore-described functions, the wheel Q actuates the packerhead \V. In the face of the wheel Q is a wristpin. w, to which is attached a pitman or connecting rod, 10, the other end of which is attached to a crank-arm, w, on a short shaft, w", having its bearings beneath the packer-box X. This shaft 10 has a miter gear wheel w, which meshes into and act-uates a corresponding miter-gear wheel, 10", mounted on a shaft, 10. This shaft extends at right angles to the packerbox X. and has arms W to which the packer-head W is attached. These arms work in slots in the bottom of the packerbox X. It is obvious that the action of the wrist-pin w on the mechanism connected therewith, as described, produces a t-o-and-fro movement of the packer-head WV, thereby effecting the result described. The packer-box X is also provided with a'm'ovable abutment or head, Y, against which the folded sheets are packed by the above-deseribed action of the packerhead XV.

It will be apparent that the shape of the sides A and B of the frame having the dependent cross-piece b' forms a most convenient sup port for the packer-box X, which receives the folded sheets as they pass from the foldingrolls of the machine.

I am aware that geared multiple cam-wheels have heretofore been used in foldingmachines for the purpose of operating foldingblades thereof; but I am not aware of any foldingmachine having a geared multiple cam-Wheel arranged in the compact form above described which performed the several functions of actuating folding-blades, of an intermediate and of a driving wheel actuating folding-rolls, and the pack-er mechanism of such folding-machines, all of which functions are performed by the geared multiple cam-wheel in my machine.

Having thus fully described the construction, operation, and advantages of my improved paper-folding machine, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of the geared multiple cam wheel having the cam-surfaces S, T, U, and V, folding rolls and blades arranged substantially as described, intermediate connections for operating said folding-blades from the saidcam-surfaces, spur-gears g and m, meshing with said geared multiple cam, and means for driving the folding-rolls from said spur-gears, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a paper-folding machine, the combination of a geared drive-wheel, Q, folding rollers and blades, arranged substantially as de- 1 termeshing with a miter-gear wheel on a rocking shaft, the latter having a crank thereon connected by a pitnlan to a wrist-pin on the IS driving-wheehwith the packer-box of said machine, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. STONEMETZ.

WVitnesses:

J. STORM, B. B. BROWN. 

